Locking Jump Ring

ABSTRACT

A locking jump ring is an apparatus that is used to allow for connection of other chains or looped devices, particularly for the addition of decorative charms or ornaments to existing jewelry. The apparatus includes a U-shaped body, a first claw, a second claw, and a fastener. The first claw and the second claw are joined to the U-shaped body on opposing ends. The first claw and the second claw are oriented away from the U-shaped body, so that the first claw and the second claw point towards each other. The fastener comprises a male portion and a female portion. When the first claw and the second claw are pressed towards each other, the male portion engages with the female portion, locking the present invention into a closed configuration.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patentapplication Ser. No. 62/544,448 filed on Aug. 11, 2017. The currentapplication is filed on Aug. 13, 2018 while Aug. 11, 2018 was on aweekend.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a lockable link, moreparticularly to a jump ring whose ends form a permanent connection oncepressed together. A user of the present invention is able to form a linkwhich can be connected to one or more chain links jump rings, charms, orother jewelry components.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The chain is a useful apparatus for securing property, formingconnections between objects and supporting loads. One of the mostattractive aspects of chains is that the length of a chain can bemodified by simply adding or removing a number of individual links.Unlike ropes and cords, no knots are needed to connect multiple chains.In such chains, a single link can be used to connect multiple chainstogether in a desired configuration. One drawback to this approach isthat the ends of a chain link must be soldered, or otherwise fused, toprovide the maximum connective strength. Generally, this requiresadditional tools and expertise. These resources may not be available inthe field, and, therefore, it is difficult to maximize the strength ofany link of chain formed in the field. Furthermore, links of chain aresusceptible to damage and failure when subjected to substantialexternally applied forces. Fatigue further limits the effectiveness ofchains, as many connective chain link devices weaken over time due toconstant applied pressure of charms and ornaments. The present inventionis a Locking Jump Ring that addresses these concerns by providing a linkcapable of forming a permanent ad hoc connection to the links of one ormore chains that can support the weight of one or more charms ordecorative ornaments.

The present invention is manufactured as an open-ended loop with anintegrated fastening mechanism. The fastening mechanism is used to forma permanent connection between the ends of the open-ended loop. Morespecifically, one end of the present invention is manufactured with ananchor fastener which is intended to be inserted into an anchorreceptacle positioned on the opposite end of the present invention. Toinsert the anchor fastener into the anchor receptacle, a user applies aforce which moves the ends of the present invention together. Theconnection established by inserting the anchor fastener into the anchorreceptacle is established such that any subsequently applied externalforces applied from the weight of hanging ornaments or decorative charmsonly serve to more fixedly connect the two components.

In addition to the connection established between the anchor fastenerand anchor receptacle, the geometry of the present invention facilitatesthe creation of a permanently-fused link. That is, the ends of thepresent invention are designed to apply compressive forces to the anchorfastener and anchor receptacle when subjected to externally appliedgravitational forces. This compressive force prevents the ends of thepresent invention from becoming detached. The unique geometry of thepresent invention facilitates the creation of a seamless link with noperceivable breaks. In this way, any attached charms are able to slideabout the present invention without catching on, or disengaging, itsconnected ends.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front right perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a left view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the present invention in the detachedconfiguration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describingselected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limitthe scope of the present invention.

The present invention is a locking jump ring that is used to increasethe length of a chain and to allow for connection of other chains orlooped devices. The present invention is further configured to provide asmooth inner ring that will become stronger as tension due togravitational effects on an attached charm is applied. The presentinvention comprises a U-shaped body 1, a first claw 5, a second claw 6,and a fastener 11, as seen in FIG. 1. The U-shaped body 1 is a curvedrigid unit that is continuous with the first claw 5 and the second claw6. The U-shaped body 1 allows the user to press either side of theU-shaped body 1 to move the first claw 5 and the second claw 6 closertogether. The first claw 5 is an extrusion extending from the U-shapedbody 1 that allows for engagement with the second claw 6. Similarly, thesecond claw 6 is an extrusion extending from the U-shaped body 1 thatallows for engagement with the first claw 5. This arrangement of thefirst claw 5 relative to the second claw 6 allows for the first claw 5and the second claw 6 to overlap during use. The fastener 11 is aconnection mechanism that enables the first claw 5 to lock in placerelative to the second claw 6, thus forming an internal loop. Afterplacing the first claw 5 and the second claw 6 through the loops ofexternal chains, the user can press the first claw 5 towards the secondclaw 6 to secure the first claw 5 in position relative to the secondclaw 6 by connecting the fastener 11. In doing so, the user effectivelyjoins the chain links and decorative charms together about the presentinvention.

Furthermore, the U-shaped body 1 comprises a first leg 2, a second leg3, and a web 4, as seen in FIG. 2. The web 4 is a section of rigidmaterial that connects to both the first leg 2 and the second leg 3. Thefirst leg 2 is the segment of the U-shaped body 1 that connects the web4 to the first claw 5. In this way, the web 4 is positioned generallyaway from the first claw 5. The second leg 3 is the segment of theU-shaped body 1 that connects the web 4 to the second claw 6. In thisway, the web 4 is positioned generally away from the second claw 6. Thefirst claw 5 and the second claw 6 each comprise a free end 7, a fixedend 8, a concave side 9, and a convex side 10. The free end 7 is the tipof the first claw 5 and the second claw 6, opposite the fixed end 8. Thefree end 7 allows the user to add ornaments onto the present invention.The fixed end 8 is the segment of the first claw 5 and the second claw 6opposite the free end 7. This arrangement allows the fixed end 8 tosecure to the first leg 2 and the second leg 3 of the U-shaped body 1.The concave side 9 of the first claw 5 and the second claw 6 is theinside portion of the first claw 5 and the second claw 6. Thisarrangement allows chain links and ornaments contained within thepresent invention to join to the concave side 9 of the first claw 5 andthe second claw 6 upon closure and consequent activation of the fastener11. The convex side 10 of the first claw 5 and the second claw 6 is theoutside portion of the first claw 5 and the second claw 6, opposite theconcave side 9. In this way, the convex side 10 faces generally awayfrom added charms and ornaments.

Furthermore, the fastener 11 comprises a male portion 12 and a femaleportion 13. The male portion 12 is a rounded protrusion extendingperpendicularly away from the convex side 10 of the first claw 5. Thisarrangement allows the male portion 12 to couple with the female portion13. The female portion 13 is a preferably dome-shaped cut into theconcave side 9 of the second claw 6, between the second leg 3 and thefree end 7 of the second claw 6. In this way, the female portion 13 isadapted to join to the male portion 12.

The general configuration of the aforementioned components allows thepresent invention to efficiently and effectively extend chain links andadd decorative charms and ornaments to them. The fixed end 8 of thefirst claw 5 is connected adjacent to the first leg 2, opposite the web4. This arrangement ensures that the web 4 is arranged away from thefirst leg 2, and consequently, away from the first claw 5. The free end7 of the first claw 5 is oriented towards the second leg 3. In this way,the free end 7 of the first claw 5 extends away from the first leg 2.The fixed end 8 of the second claw 6 is connected adjacent to the secondleg 3, opposite the web 4. This arrangement ensures that the web 4 isarranged away from the second leg 3, and consequently, away from thesecond claw 6. Further, the free end 7 of the second claw 6 is orientedtowards the first leg 2. In this way, the free end 7 of the second claw6 extends away from the second leg 3. The arrangement of the free end 7of the first claw 5 and the free end 7 of the second claw 6 results inthe free end 7 of the first claw 5 and the free end 7 of the second claw6 being oriented generally towards each other. The male portion 12 isconnected adjacent to the convex side 10 of the first claw 5. Thisallows the male portion 12 to interact with the female portion 13. Thefemale portion 13 traversing into the concave side 9 of the second claw6. This arrangement allows the male portion 12 to interlock with thefemale portion 13.

In order to engage the male portion 12 to the female portion 13, thepresent invention benefits from friction-reducing components that allowthe free end 7 of the first claw 5 to interact with the free end 7 ofthe second claw 6. To this end, the present invention further comprisesa ramp 14, as seen in FIG. 3. The ramp 14 is an angled segment of thesecond claw 6 that slides along the male portion 12 when the userpresses the first leg 2 towards the second leg 3. The ramp 14 isintegrated into the concave side 9 of the second claw 6. Thisarrangement allows the male portion 12 to slide into position relativeto the female portion 13. The ramp 14 is positioned in between the freeend 7 of the second claw 6 and the female portion 13. In this way, theramp 14 is optimally positioned for adjustment of the second claw 6relative to the first claw 5.

To allow the male portion 12 and the female portion 13 to interact, thefirst claw 5 and the second claw 6 need to be offset from each other. Tothis end, a reference point 15 of the web 4 needs to be centrallypositioned along the web 4. This allows the user to utilize the web 4 asa midpoint between the first claw 5 and the second claw 6. A firstdistance 16 between the reference point 15 and the free end 7 of thefirst claw 5 is less than a second distance 17 between the referencepoint 15 and the free end 7 of the second claw 6. This arrangementensures that the first claw 5 is offset from the second claw 6.

The present invention may be in one of two configurations. In oneconfiguration, the first claw 5 and the second claw 6 are in a detachedconfiguration. This means that the male portion 12 is not engaged withthe female portion 13, as seen in FIG. 4. The concave side 9 of thefirst claw 5 is positioned offset from the convex side 10 of the secondclaw 6. In this way, the present invention is prepared to accept newornaments for connection to the chain links.

Alternatively, the first claw 5 and the second claw 6 are in an attachedconfiguration. This allows secure containment of joined charms and chainlinks to the present invention. The female portion 13 is engaged to themale portion 12. This arrangement ensures that as forces are applied inopposing directions to the present invention, the fastener 11 strengthimproves, further securing the chain links and ornaments in place. Theconcave side 9 of the first claw 5 is pressed against the convex side 10of the second claw 6. The concave side 9 of the first claw 5 interlockswith the convex side 10 of the second claw 6, further increasingfrictional retention forces preventing the present invention fromopening after closure. Furthermore, the concave side 9 of the secondclaw 6 is shaped to receive the convex side 10 of the first claw 5. Thisarrangement ensures that the first claw 5 is securely connected to thesecond claw 6. The concave side 9 of the first claw 5, an interior sideof the first leg 2, an interior side of the second leg 3, and aninterior side of the web 4 are shaped in a continuous closed loopingsurface. In this way, connected chain links and charms or ornamentsinteract smoothly with the inner loop of the present invention, withoutinterference from any connective joints or pieces of the presentinvention.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A locking jump ring comprises: a U-shaped body; afirst claw; a second claw; a fastener; the U-shaped body comprises afirst leg, a second leg, and a web; the first claw and the second claweach comprise a free end, a fixed end, a concave side and a convex side;the fastener comprises a male portion and a female portion; the fixedend of the first claw being connected adjacent to the first leg,opposite the web; the free end of the first claw being oriented towardsthe second leg; the fixed end of the second claw being connectedadjacent to the second leg, opposite the web; the free end of the secondclaw being oriented towards the first leg; the male portion beingconnected adjacent to the convex side of the first claw; and the femaleportion traversing into the concave side of the second claw.
 2. Thelocking jump ring as claimed in claim 1 comprises: a ramp; the rampbeing integrated into the concave side of the second claw; and the rampbeing positioned in between the free end of the second claw and thefemale portion.
 3. The locking jump ring as claimed in claim 1comprises: a reference point of the web being centrally positioned alongthe web; and a first distance between the reference point and the freeend of the first claw being less than a second distance between thereference point and the free end of the second claw.
 4. The locking jumpring as claimed in claim 1 comprises: wherein the first claw and thesecond claw are in a detached configuration; and the concave side of thefirst claw being positioned offset from the convex side of the secondclaw.
 5. The locking jump ring as claimed in claim 1 comprises: whereinthe first claw and the second claw are in an attached configuration; thefemale portion being engaged by the male portion; and the concave sideof the first claw being pressed against the convex side of the secondclaw.
 6. The locking jump ring as claimed in claim 5 comprises: theconcave side of the second claw being shaped to receive the convex sideof the first claw; and the concave side of the first claw, an interiorside of the first leg, an interior side of the second leg, and aninterior side of the web being shaped in a continuous closed loopingsurface.
 7. A locking jump ring comprises: a U-shaped body; a firstclaw; a second claw; a fastener; a ramp; the U-shaped body comprises afirst leg, a second leg, and a web; the first claw and the second claweach comprise a free end, a fixed end, a concave side and a convex side;the fastener comprises a male portion and a female portion; the fixedend of the first claw being connected adjacent to the first leg,opposite the web; the free end of the first claw being oriented towardsthe second leg; the fixed end of the second claw being connectedadjacent to the second leg, opposite the web; the free end of the secondclaw being oriented towards the first leg; the male portion beingconnected adjacent to the convex side of the first claw; the femaleportion traversing into the concave side of the second claw; the rampbeing integrated into the concave side of the second claw; and the rampbeing positioned in between the free end of the second claw and thefemale portion.
 8. The locking jump ring as claimed in claim 7comprises: a reference point of the web being centrally positioned alongthe web; and a first distance between the reference point and the freeend of the first claw being less than a second distance between thereference point and the free end of the second claw.
 9. The locking jumpring as claimed in claim 7 comprises: wherein the first claw and thesecond claw are in a detached configuration; and the concave side of thefirst claw being positioned offset from the convex side of the secondclaw.
 10. The locking jump ring as claimed in claim 7 comprises: whereinthe first claw and the second claw are in an attached configuration; thefemale portion being engaged by the male portion; and the concave sideof the first claw being pressed against the convex side of the secondclaw.
 11. The locking jump ring as claimed in claim 10 comprises: theconcave side of the second claw being shaped to receive the convex sideof the first claw; and the concave side of the first claw, an interiorside of the first leg, an interior side of the second leg, and aninterior side of the web being shaped in a continuous closed loopingsurface.
 12. A locking jump ring comprises: a U-shaped body; a firstclaw; a second claw; a fastener; the U-shaped body comprises a firstleg, a second leg, and a web; the first claw and the second claw eachcomprise a free end, a fixed end, a concave side and a convex side; thefastener comprises a male portion and a female portion; the fixed end ofthe first claw being connected adjacent to the first leg, opposite theweb; the free end of the first claw being oriented towards the secondleg; the fixed end of the second claw being connected adjacent to thesecond leg, opposite the web; the free end of the second claw beingoriented towards the first leg; the male portion being connectedadjacent to the convex side of the first claw; the female portiontraversing into the concave side of the second claw; a reference pointof the web being centrally positioned along the web; and a firstdistance between the reference point and the free end of the first clawbeing less than a second distance between the reference point and thefree end of the second claw.
 13. The locking jump ring as claimed inclaim 12 comprises: a ramp; the ramp being integrated into the concaveside of the second claw; and the ramp being positioned in between thefree end of the second claw and the female portion.
 14. The locking jumpring as claimed in claim 12 comprises: wherein the first claw and thesecond claw are in a detached configuration; and the concave side of thefirst claw being positioned offset from the convex side of the secondclaw.
 15. The locking jump ring as claimed in claim 12 comprises:wherein the first claw and the second claw are in an attachedconfiguration; the female portion being engaged by the male portion; andthe concave side of the first claw being pressed against the convex sideof the second claw.
 16. The locking jump ring as claimed in claim 15comprises: the concave side of the second claw being shaped to receivethe convex side of the first claw; and the concave side of the firstclaw, an interior side of the first leg, an interior side of the secondleg, and an interior side of the web being shaped in a continuous closedlooping surface.